MTB groups unite! New UK MTB Trail Alliance officially launched
Dedicated to supporting trail associations, bike parks and informal trail groups, the newly founded UK MTB Trail Alliance has been created to advocate for UK riders and their trails.
Last week’s launch appears to have been warmly met by the industry, including the Bicycle Association.
As mountain biking has grown, the absence of a national body to advocate for the UK’s trails has left them unsupported and vulnerable, so said the press statement for the UK MTB Trail Alliance (http://ukmtb.org). 100 groups are already on board and able to share knowledge and pool their influence. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to seek support from riders to accelerate the progress already made.
“The UK MTB Trail Alliance will protect and improve our amazing but fragile network of official and unofficial trails, by giving them the support and the representation they need,” Robin Grant, founder and chair of the UK MTB Trail Alliance. “But we can’t do it without your help. Think about what trails mean to you, contribute what you can, and spread the word.”
“By riders, for riders”
The UK MTB Trail Alliance brings together over 100 of the UK’s trail associations, bike parks and informal trail groups to share knowledge and best practice and to give them a voice at a national level. It will advocate for the UK’s riders and their trails, building relationships with national landowners, governing bodies and national governments, to foster a more progressive approach.
The alliance said it is aiming for a future with better and more sustainable trails – where trails have the resources, volunteers, knowledge and permission to prosper. One where fewer unofficial trails are shut down – because it works with landowners to allay and mitigate their concerns, and help local communities take on their management.
Manon Carpenter, trail advocate, Specialized Soil Searching and Patagonia ambassador and UK MTB Trail Alliance trustee said: “There’s a lot of great momentum growing around mountain biking and trails at the moment, and it’s important riders, trail builders and trail stewards have a voice. Support the crowdfund with what you can, to make sure we collectively have a seat at the table where decisions are made.”
Behind the scenes, the UK MTB Trail Alliance has already provided hands-on support to groups up and down the country, convening conversations with experts on a range of topics to help our members on monthly Zoom calls. It has also engaged with the UK Trails Project and their ‘right trail, right place, right people, right time’ report. It has partnered with Welsh Cycling on the launch of the Developing Mountain Biking in Wales project. It has also been working on building relationships with landowners like Forestry England & NRW, national governing bodies like British Cycling and Cycling UK, and national government departments like DEFRA. “In a short time, we have already demonstrated the benefits that collaboration and a collective voice can bring.”
Jo Atkinson, Wyllie Bike Park and Risca Riders, said: “Pre-launch, the UK MTB Trail Alliance have already gone above and beyond to provide advice and support to Wyllie Bike Park and Risca Riders. The alliance offers so much promise for helping trail groups and the trails they look after grow. If you’re passionate about trails, please donate what you can.”
“It’s high time that trail associations and bike parks had a voice”
Dave Liddy, lead specialist advisor recreation safety at Natural Resources Wales, said: “NRW are in support of the UK MTB Trail Alliance, who we hope can help with the sustainable management of trails on the land in our care.”
Tom Hutton, former board member of OpenMTB, added: “It’s fantastic to see the momentum that the UK MTB Trail Alliance is building, and to see so much new energy being poured into trail access”
The Trail Hub – knowledge sharing platform
The Trail Hub is the UK MTB Trail Alliance’s knowledge sharing platform. It’s launched to over 200 users from trail associations, bike parks and informal trail groups. Its Library contains an array of useful information such as guides to funding, training, safeguarding, planning permission for trails, landowners’ liability, trail advocacy case studies, academic research and a host of other resources. There’s lots of discussion developing on the Trail Hub too, from how to map your trails, First Aid provision at bike parks, dedicated ebike climbs to favourite trail tools. The idea is if members have questions that other members might be able to help answer, they get on the Trail Hub and ask.
Henry Norman, founder and director of Ride Sheffield, said: “It’s great that trail associations across the UK finally have a home and place to share good practice, support and experience. To build better trails and communities, making mountain biking a better space for all.”
The UK MTB Trail Alliance will be set up as a registered charity and governed by a board of unpaid trustees. It said: “Although volunteer-run with no salaries, this work costs money – there are membership fees for professional bodies in order to lobby and influence, the admin costs of setting up and running a charity, and expenses to cover. We’re inviting all UK MTB riders who care about the future of their trails to invest what they can to make that future brighter – our GoFundMe campaign aims to raise £10,000 to help cover our year-one costs.”
http://gofundme.com/f/help-us-to-protect-your-trails
Andy Davies, chair of Dean Trail Volunteers, said: “There is a real need for a national body that can make trail builders’ lives easier. Be that dealing with red-tape, knowing how to build trails that will last, or just simply being able to chat with others in the same boat. If you can’t spare the time but can spare a tenner, donate now to the alliance’s GoFundMe.”
Trustees include representatives from small informal trail groups, big commercial bike parks, established trail associations to community-run trails, and from the four nations of the UK:
Robin Grant – Founder and chair of the UK MTB Trail Alliance, trustee of Cycling UK, ex-ad agency CEO and successful entrepreneur
Ian Warby – Founder of Aston Hill Bike Park, former CTC off-road lead and IMBA UK board member and proprietor of Firecrest Mountain Biking
Manon Carpenter – Trail advocate, ex-world champion downhiller, Specialized Soil Searching and Patagonia ambassador, IMBA Europe board member and North Cardiff Trails committee member
Ali Hair – Chair of Trash Free Cambu, an informal trail group in Cambusbarron, central Scotland and Trash Free Trails A-Teamer
Kath Goodey – Chair of Trail Collective North Wales and proprietor of RideHigh MTB
Bern McClure – Chair of Grassroots Mountainbikers, supporting trail builders across Ireland, and Cavehill Mountainbike Club, which manages trails in Cave Hill Country Park in Belfast
Karen Newman – Director of Highland Wildcat Trails, a set of community-run trails in Golspie in the Northern Highlands of Scotland
Tim Foster – Former management consultant and founder and owner of Revolution Bike Park in North Wales
Kath Goodey, chair of Trail Collective North Wales and UK MTB Trail Alliance trustee: “It’s high time that trail associations and bike parks had a voice. We aim to put trails front and centre of all that we do. By working closely with landowners, NGBs and others, we hope to become a significant and trusted partner. This can’t be achieved on volunteer hours alone so, please, donate and help us secure the future of our trails.”
